The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-05-26

bellious humor. s.It's easy enough"
thought 'for the editor to tell M poor fel-
lows to write something new on tho sub
ject, but how to do it ia tho Question-it's
worn out, people won't read it-aorator Of
the day may glance over it TO SEQ il we
took every word Of his eloQucnccW Ides-
perately took it up-.set's see, what have
written" Again the people have brought
gold and frankincense and myrrh 70 the
tomb Of Abraham Incoln-lwe quote from
our talented speaker OF the day
'Honor-honor-hono TO him, eternal
honor to his name! Here beneath this
stately monument are preserved TO poster
ity not only the sacred remains in costly
sarcophagus, but priceless n,cmentoes OF
his everyday life carefully guardcdl To-
dayis wreathed with flowers and memorial
Could even the great cmancipator
ask for more, were he to look down now on
this days doingsp ! stopped abruptly.
The PARKWAY music growing faint and
fainter only accented the silence The
very breath of solitude hung over Oak
ridge, but something know not what,
made me look down to the gravel walk.
There he stood staring at the monument,
with great solemn eyesl A young colored
chap, about my size-ragged and barefoot
He stood SO long without moving muscle,
rubbed my eyes to make sure was not
dreaming, and when looked again he was
not there.
Knight say he was here, for before
had time to come out from behind the
'NGroup Of Infantry" saw him coming up
the steps, head erect 1.-THE ragamufln hath
aprincely tread" He stopped at the first
side Of the shaft-hark! He is saying some
thingl He comes to the next side What
is it that he says with head bowed, and
hand stretched out showing black against
the Wilderness Of the marbles The last
words reach me: "May his soul rest In
pesce" Who was hel Where did he
come 'front.' Now he is so near can almost
touch him-the hand outstretched, the sol.
emn voice: "To God and Abraham Lincoln
we give thanks for life and liberty" Then
bowling: MAY his soul rest in peacer'
Then, soft as shadow, down the stairs
again. From my vantage ground I saw
him standing now in front Of the tomb, his
eager eyes trying to pierce the darkness
within the iron bars. He softly tried to
open the door-it was locked. A look Of in
tense surprise crossed his face. He care
FULLY put back into his pocket a small
white box which he had been holding, ana
tried the door with both hands, gently at
first, then hercely. No USE He wiped
great drops OF sweat from his forehead,
and with the wild look of some hunted
creature flung himself against the bars
With the cry Of q hurt animal, he chung
there sobbng like child: ''Oh, I'm SO dis
appointed-so disappointed How can ever
tell Joes Poor old fellow-poor Joe-how
can tell you that-the door is--locked! !"
That was too much for me. started down
to tell him - tell him WHAT That he
couldn't get in! He probably knew that
oy this time. found him listlessly sitting
On one of the rustic benches staring at the
ground. "Its too bad" blunderingly
said; ''the guards gone home. You're toe
iate.n
ayes, too late" he said, with flashing
.yes; stwenty -one years too late. Joe
should have gone then. Let the slave thank
him, not wait for the free man to grow
mp" He threw cut one hand with gest-
ure Of despair. at seemed the one thing
Joe was living for-and he's old now
very old. He used to say: 'Yo' mus
learn TO- to speak prop'ly, honey, SOS wien
yo' 60 TO- to thank de blessed President
Not cause Maria Lmkum's high and